Suspect in Trump assassination attempt charged, didn’t fire any shots: Live updates

An apparently botched assassination attempt targeting former President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course was fueling an intensive investigation Monday into how an armed threat could once again reach within a few hundreds yards of Trump, two months after he was nearly killed at an event in Pennsylvania.

Suspect Ryan Routh, who appeared in federal court Monday, never fired a shot, authorities said. He was being held on charges of possession of a firearm while a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

Trump was at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach around 2 p.m. Sunday when Secret Service agents walking the course ahead of him spotted a gun barrel in bushes. When they opened fire, the suspect fled in a black Nissan SUV, leaving behind a loaded, SKS-style assault rifle, a backpack, two bags, a digital camera and some food, according to the criminal complaint.

Routh, 58, was detained a short time later, and a witness who saw the suspect fleeing the golf course identified Routh, the complaint says. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said Routh had been about 300-500 yards from Trump and that Routh’s rifle and scope put him within range.

Trump thanked the Secret Service and local authorities for their efforts. But he said President Joe Biden and of Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris motivated the incident.

“He (Routh) believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News Digital. “Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at.”

It was the second assassination attempt he has survived − In July, Trump’s ear was grazed when a gunman opened fire at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Developments:

∎ Martin County Sheriff’s Office released body cam video showing Routh being taken into custody.

∎ A detention hearing has been scheduled for Routh on Sept. 23 and an arraignment for Sept. 30.

∎ President Joe Biden said Monday that the Secret Service needed more resources, and he encouraged Congress to provide them. “One thing I want to make clear (is) the Service needs more help. I think Congress should respond to their needs,” Biden told reporters as he left the White House.

Suspect Ryan Routh fired no shots

David Aronberg, the state attorney for Palm Beach County, confirmed to USA TODAY that Routh did not fire any shots while perched just outside the Trump International Golf Course. No shell casings were found at the site, he said. Prosecutors in his office were developing a motion for pretrial detention with no bail until federal officials informed him they would be taking over the case, Aronberg said.

“We deemed him as a threat to the community,” he said. “We did not want him to slip away.”

Aronberg said his office was more concerned about Routh being a danger to community than a flight risk. “He had an AK-47 style rifle and the allegation was he was pointing it at a law enforcement officer,” he said.

− Rick Jervis

Video of Routh arrest released

When Routh was pulled over by local law enforcement at about 2:14 p.m. Sunday, he was asked if he knew why he was being stopped and he responded that he did, according to FBI special agent Mark Thomas, who signed an affidavit in support of the criminal complaint against Routh. Video of the stop can be seen here.

The license plate on the Nissan was registered to a 2012 white Ford truck that had been reported stolen, according to Thomas. A witness who reportedly saw Routh speed off from the Trump golf club area was brought to the scene where Routh was captured and identified him.

Routh’s cellphone records indicate he was in the vicinity of the golf course tree line for almost 12 hours Sunday − from 1:59 am until approximately 1:31 PM.

– Aysha Bagchi

Hours after incident, Trump lobbying donors

Donald Trump has sent another aggressive fund-raising solicitation based on this second assassination attempt, urging supporters to “fight” on his behalf.

“There are people in this world who will do whatever it takes to stop us,” Trump said after assuring donors that “I am safe and well, and no one was hurt. Thank God!”

“I will not stop fighting for you,” Trump said. “I will Never Surrender!”

Trump posted the fundraising pitch on his Truth Social account with the headline “Fight, Fight, Fight!!!!!” Those were the words he used right after the first assassination attempt in July.

− David Jackson

Routh spent itme in Ukraine, wrote book

In a 291-page self-published book Routh produced in February 2023 on Amazon, titled “Ukraines’ Unwinnable War,” Routh unspooled pages of discontent over America’s involvement – or lack thereof – in the Russian-Ukrainian war, as well as urging more military intervention in Taiwan, North Korea and other places. In the book, available only in Kindle version for $2.99, he wrote about traveling to Ukraine in 2022 and how the Ukrainian government refused to let him fight. Instead, according to his account, he set up a protest booth in Kyiv and tried to recruit volunteers to the frontlines.

“It is insanity for many great nations to sit on vast militaries and do nothing as people are killed in countless countries around the globe,” Routh wrote.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Routh’s links to Ukraine showed that “playing with fire” had consequences, a reference to U.S. support for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion.

-Rick Jervis

Routh was ‘relaxed’ when pulled over, taken into custody

The vehicle Routh was driving was stopped minutes after the incident. Martin County Sheriff William Snyder told CNN Routh was so calm it was “perplexing.”

“His facial affect was so flat. His demeanor was relaxed,” Snyder said. “I honestly thought it looked like somebody that had just left the church picnic and was on his way home.”

He was arrested amid a phalanx of law enforcement, including a SWAT team and helicopter. Interstate 95 was briefly shut down, and a bomb dog was brought in. Amid the commotion, Routh said little and never asked why he was pulled over, Snyder said.

“He was just calm, really, as if he was going for dinner,” the sheriff said.

Trump: ‘It was certainly an interesting day!’

The former president’s first public comment on the incident came in an 11:36 p.m. Truth Social post thanking supporters and praising the Secret Service and law enforcement.

“I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes – It was certainly an interesting day!” He added: “Most importantly, I want to thank the U.S. Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his Office of brave and dedicated Patriots, and, all of Law Enforcement, for the incredible job done today at Trump International in keeping me, as the 45th President of the United States, and the Republican Nominee in the upcoming Presidential Election, SAFE. THE JOB DONE WAS ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING. I AM VERY PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!”

Sunday’s incident comes as the political atmosphere grows more divisive ahead of the November election. Earlier Sunday, Trump posted “I hate Taylor Swift” on his Truth Social platform. And running mate Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, doubled down on a controversial statements about immigrants, saying he had “no regrets” for propagating fake stories about Haitians that led to multiple threats against them in the town of Springfield, Ohio

− David Jackson

What we know about Ryan Routh

Routh was arrested Sunday and has his first court appearance Monday. He appears to be an impassioned supporter of Ukraine in its fight against a Russian invasion and also appeared to have an extensive history of business troubles and court filings.

Routh’s social media posts and media interviews form the picture of an impulsive person who said he was willing to risk his life for his ideals – and who made claims that sometimes tested credulity. Besides being a builder and entrepreneur, Routh had told several major media outlets that he worked to recruit soldiers to foreign wars he believed in. A New York Times story in March 2023 that described Routh as a “former construction worker from Greensboro, N.C.” said Routh was recruiting Afghan soldiers − who had fled the Taliban − to fight in Ukraine.

On a phone number associated with Routh, the voicemail greeting as of Sunday identified the number’s owner as “Ryan in Hawaii,” working with the “National Volunteer Center, sending soldiers to Ukraine, as well as Taiwan.” He urged callers to send him a message through WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram or Facebook. Phone calls placed to him were not returned Sunday. Read more here.

− Rick Jervis and Will Carless

House panel to set hearing on latest assassination attempt

Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., and Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., chair and ranking member of the task force created to investigate the July assassination attempt on Trump’s life, said in a joint statement they have requested a briefing with the Secret Service “about what happened and how security responded” to Sunday’s incident.

“We are thankful that the former president was not harmed, but remain deeply concerned about political violence and condemn it in all of its forms,” they said. “The Task Force will share updates as we learn more.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on X that he and his wife spent a few hours with Trump at Mar-a-Lago following the apparent assassination attempt. “No leader in American history has endured more attacks and remained so strong and resilient,” he said. “He is unstoppable.” Read more here.

− Riley Beggin

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy sends best wishes to Trump

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced political violence and sent his best wishes to Trump following a second assassination attempt on the former president. Zelenskyy’s comments come as suspect Routh has been identified as an outspoken supporter of Ukraine in its war with Russia.

In a post on social media site X early Monday, Zelenskyy said: “I am glad that (Donald Trump) is safe and unharmed. My best wishes to him and his family.” Read more here.

− Eric Lagatta

How did the assassination attempt happen?

Asked by reporters how this incident could have happened given the previous attempt on Trump’s life, Bradshaw described the golf course as being “surrounded by shrubbery” with a limited perimeter.

“When somebody gets into the shrubbery, they’re pretty much out of sight,” he said.

Because Trump is not a sitting president, Bradshaw said, “security is limited to the areas that the Secret Service deems possible,” but that will likely change in the future.

“I would imagine the next time he comes at a golf course, there’ll probably be a little bit more people around the perimeter, but the Secret Service did exactly what they should have done,” Bradshaw said. “They provided exactly what the protection should have been, and their agent did a fantastic job.”

– Phillip Bailey

Secret Service challenged by outdoor events

The Secret Service had an elevated presence around Trump when he was golfing on Sunday and thwarted the alleged assassination attempt after an agent in front of him spotted a rifle through the shrubbery. Experts say agents in West Palm Beach appeared to have handled the situation properly two months after the Secret Service was heavily criticized following an assassination attempt at an outdoor rally in July, when a gunman with an AR-style rifle shot at the GOP nominee from about 150 yards away.

But the recent incident at one of Trump’s golf clubs in Florida underscores the challenges in protecting a presidential candidate who likes to keep a high public profile – including hitting the links and holding outdoor rallies, those experts told USA TODAY. Read more here.

Biden commends Secret Service

Biden said “there is no place for political violence” following Sunday’s incident vowing to make sure the Secret Service has “every resource” for Trump’s safety. Biden, in a written statement Sunday evening, said his team has briefed him on what the FBI is investigating as an apparent assassination attempt against Trump, the 2024 Republican presidential nominee.

Biden commended the work of the Secret Service and its law enforcement partners “for their vigilance and their efforts to keep the former president and those around him safe.”

“I am relieved that the former president is unharmed,” Biden said. “There is an active investigation into this incident as law enforcement gathers more details about what happened. As I have said many times, there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country.”

First assassination attempt ended in death for shooter

The first attempt on Trump’s life took pace July 13. A lone gunman, identified as Thomas Crooks, 20, opened fire at a crowded rally in Western Pennsylvania. A bullet grazed Trump’s ear and he was rushed off stage by U.S. Secret Service after at least six shots rang out. One spectator was killed and two others were critically wounded. Crooks, perched on the roof of an adjoining warehouse, was killed by a Secret Service sniper returning fire.

The incident drew a firestorm of criticism and questions, including how Crooks managed to get within about 150 yards of Trump despite Secret Service protection. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned 10 days after the shooting.

Contributing: Joey Garrison and Bart Jansen

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump assassination attempt live updates: Suspect being investigated